Decorated Airdrie soldier slams Army bosses amid claims he was discharged due to nut allergy

Patrick Quinn claims he was discharged from the Army because of a nut allergy.

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A DECORATED soldier from Airdrie has hit out at Army bosses amid claims he was discharged because of an allergy to nuts.

Brave Glenmavis man Patrick Quinn, 28, was unceremoniously dumped from a promising military career on medical grounds just weeks ago – despite insisting he revealed the condition when he joined up back in 2003.

The devastated veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan fumed: “I put my life on the line for them – but they gave me back nothing.”

Patrick’s problems began when he was prescribed a powerful EpiPen adrenaline injector by military doctors after he ran out of the antihistamines he used to treat his mild condition.

However, he was subsequently discharged by Ministry of Defence chiefs who decided he was ineligible for frontline duties – despite never suffering a serious episode.

Patrick, who received honours for bravery, was shocked to be told after a string of appeals that his skills and experience were insufficient to persuade commanders to reverse their decision.

He continued: “They took me on knowing I had an allergy.

“And after telling me for 12 years I was brilliant and getting two commendations on back-to-back tours, I cannot see how they can now say I’m not good enough.

“It’s like they don’t give a damn. I always put the Army first but they’ve flushed my career down the toilet.”

Patrick’s ordeal started when he was served tomato soup with lentils – which can also trigger a reaction – in an Army canteen.

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers sergeant visited a doctor because he had run out of antihistamines to counter a possible reaction.

The medic claimed there was no record of a nut allergy on his records and gave him blood tests.

Patrick admits he was baffled by this revelation because his own copies of test results dated back almost a decade.

And despite the result showing no change in his condition, he was prescribed an EpiPen for the first time.

“It’s on all my medical documents that I had a consultation about my blood results and was told I was fine to ‘soldier on and just avoid nuts’.

“I didn’t turn the EpiPen down as I thought it was better to have it than not. Little did I know they were handing me a smoking gun which would end my career.”

Patrick joined up in 2003 to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and grandad – and even took a GP note with him flagging up his nut allergy.During his 12-year career he had regular blood checks to make sure he was fighting fit – and passed them all with flying colours.

Officials hailed him a “very talented, highly skilled and conscientious” trooper. He was awarded the Queen’s Commendation, a Brigade Commander’s Commendation and three bravery medals for two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.

But he was finally medically discharged on October 16.

The Army Employment Board concluded: “On balance, the Board did not judge your skills, qualifications and experience to be sufficiently exceptional not to apply the Army’s own policy. The Army cannot continue to offer you a worthwhile and rewarding career.”

The decision came just weeks before Patrick was due to be promoted to staff sergeant. He added: “When I first joined the Army I was told it was a job for life.

“I worked ridiculously hard and put myself through so much stress to reach my goal.”

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on the case on data protection grounds.